A councillor and former mayor is giving up her seat after 18 years for the sake of her two dogs.

Shirley Weymouth is set to become the mayor of the Great Yarmouth borough in the 2015/16 municipal year.
Picture: James Bass

Shirley Weymouth is preparing to move from her Hemsby ward to Caister where she says she can more easily exercise her pets close to the beach at the end of Second Avenue.

She said she had loved serving her community, especially as mayor, and would miss being at forefront of local politics, but that her dachshunds Penny and Roger were her world.

She said: “With moving out of the East Flegg Ward (Hemsby, Winterton and Somerton) I decided not to be considered for re-selection, so I will no longer be a borough councillor as from next month.

“I have been so privileged to have been a borough councillor and I would like to thank you everyone very much for all their help and support over the years, it has been so gratefully received and appreciated.

Mrs Weymouth has been heavily involved in health committees, attending meetings at the James Paget Hospital and participation groups for the coastal practices.

In the aftermath of the 2013 storm surge she was at the forefront of erosion issues, especially at The Marrams, and was instrumental in setting up an emergency plan for Hemsby now being lead by the volunteer lifeboat crew.

The seat is being contested on May 3 by Edward Bush (Labour) and Noel Galer (Conservatives).